The Oceania giants, Australia, have faced a massive blow to their campaign with their loss to Zimbabwe. Having lost to the underdogs, the game against the hosts has turned out to be a do-or-die for the Aussies.
Australia are still awaiting the return of their skipper Mitchell Marsh, who has been ruled out of the earlier stages of the match. Travis Head has been leading them in his absence. Australia will clash against the Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lankan side on the 16th of February at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
This article includes a detailed preview of the AUS vs SL T20 World Cup fixture, which also sheds light on the best probable players, head-to-head record, weather report, and pitch report of the Pallekele International Stadium.
AUS vs SL T20 World Cup Match Preview:
Match Date: The Australia vs. Sri Lanka match will be played on Monday, February 16.
Venue: The match will take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Time: The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM IST.
AUS vs SL squads:
Australia Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa. Reserve: Sean Abbott, Steve Smith
Sri Lanka Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga.
AUS vs SL Probable XIs:
Australia Probable Playing XI: Australia: Mitch Marsh (c)/Steve Smith, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann.
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, and Dushmantha Chameera.
AUS vs SL T20 World Cup Match Key Battles:
Steve Smith vs Maheesh Theekshana
With Mitchell Marsh’s return date yet to be announced, Steve Smith, the legendary Australian, has been flown to Sri Lanka to feature for them, after their batting order collapsed in the World Cup. Smith has been in electrifying form in the BBL, and Maheesh Theekshana will take up the new ball, becoming a maestro who can spin the ball on the slower track. Steve Smith would not be offered his ideal bounce, to which he is adapted in Australia.
Tim David vs Dunith Wellalage
Australia’s batting specialist and big-hitting batsman Tim David has returned from his hamstring injury and will be up against one of the finest bowling units of spin bowling. Dunith Wellalage turned out to be a crucial spinner for them and will gain further importance in Hasaranga’s absence, and he will be key to his team during the middle overs, the phase when Tim David is mostly known to dominate.
Kusal Mendis vs Adam Zampa
Kusal Mendis, the Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batter, has been Sri Lanka’s most prolific run-scorer. With two half-centuries in the last two games, Kusal Mendis is the sole survivor of the Lankan batting order. Adam Zampa, the leg-spinner, is Australia’s only hope with the ball in the upcoming do-or-die game. When Zampa failed, Australia failed to pick wickets, as was evident in the game against Zimbabwe.
Dasun Shanaka vs Nathan Ellis
The Lankan skipper has been one of the most standout finishers in the Sri Lankan team alongside the all-rounder Kamindu Mendis. Shanaka was a staunch run-getter for them in the last game with a quickfire half-century. Nathan Ellis is known for his abilities with the ball in the death overs. Ellis has a huge variation with the white ball, as he often takes all the pace off the ball in the final overs. Shanaka, who is a power hitter, could miscue in the attempt to launch him into the stands.
AUS vs SL Key Players:
Australia Key Players: Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David and Adam Zampa.
Sri Lanka Key Players: Dunith Wellalage, Pathum Nissanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Kusal Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana.
AUS vs SL T20 World Cup 2026 Match—Free Live Streaming and Telecast Details:
TV Broadcast in India: The Australia vs Sri Lanka clash will be broadcast live across India on the Star Sports Network.
Online Live Streaming in India: The matches of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 can be streamed live on the JioStar app with an active subscription.
AUS vs SL T20 World Cup Match Weather and Pitch Report – Pallekele
AUS vs SL: Weather Report in Kandy
According to AccuWeather, temperature ranges will be steep in Kandy, as the city is often shrouded in immense clouds. The rain would not affect the evening game; however, dew might play a significant role in the second innings of the game, so the team winning the toss would surely choose to chase at this venue.
AUS vs SL: Pitch Report at the Pallekele International Stadium
Pallekele International Stadium is a favourable batting track in Sri Lanka; however, the excess green turf often offers large-scale help for pacers, who take up the new ball for them in the powerplay. The average first innings score was around 170-180 runs, and spinners can also be effective on this track, especially during the middle-phase.
AUS vs SL Head-to-Head Records:
In T20Is, Australia has a better winning ratio compared to Sri Lanka. According to ESPNcricinfo, these two teams played 26 T20Is together, where Australia won 16, and Sri Lanka won only ten of them.
Going into the T20 World Cups, Australia and Sri Lanka have faced each other in 5 games. On 4 of those occasions, Australia emerged as the winners and Sri Lanka have managed just one victory, which last came in the year 2009.
|
Competition |
Total Number of Matches |
Australia won |
Sri Lanka won |
Draw |
Tie |
No Result |
|
Overall |
26 |
16 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
In ICC T20 World Cup |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Last 5 T20I matches |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
AUS vs SL Results of last 3 matches:
8 June 2022 – Australia vs Sri Lanka series – Australia won by 3 wickets (Sri Lanka 124/9; Australia 126/7).
11 June 2022 – Australia vs Sri Lanka series – Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets (Sri Lanka 177/6; Australia 176/5).
25 October 2022 – ICC T20 World Cup, Perth – Australia won by 7 wickets (Australia 158/3; Sri Lanka 157/6).
AUS vs SL T20 World Cup Match—Conclusion:
From every aspect of the match, Australia is looking stronger than Sri Lanka on the team sheets. However, after their loss to Zimbabwe, Australia’s form has been a massive concern, especially the lack of strike bowlers on their side and their top order not hitting good form. Sri Lanka will have the massive spin bowling advantage, which has genuinely troubled the Aussie batters. However, Australia will keep no stone unturned, since they will play this match as a do-or-die contest.
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